Indio, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Indio, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Registration contents
- Owner/agent/local-contact details, bedrooms, occupancy, parking plan, ad URLs (§ 37.005)
- Local contact
- Must reside in the Coachella Valley; available 24/7 (§ 37.002)
- Permit number in ads
- "City of Indio Short-Term Rental Permit No. ___" required (§ 37.012(O))
- Ad disclosures
- Max occupancy, bedrooms, max vehicles, front photo (§ 37.012(O))
- Listing URLs
- Submit all listing sites/numbers to city within 30 days (§ 37.012(Q))
- Transferability
- Permit is non-transferable; annual renewal with business license (§§ 37.009, 37.010)
Summary
Indio STR owners register the rental under Section 37.005 and must list a 24-hour Coachella Valley local contact. Every advertisement must display the permit in the exact format "City of Indio Short-Term Rental Permit No. ___" plus max occupancy, bedroom count, and max vehicles (Section 37.012(O)). The permit is non-transferable and renews annually with the business license.
The owner shall include the current permit registration number on or in any advertisement appearing in any newspaper, magazine, brochure, television trade paper, internet website, etc., that promotes the availability or existence of the short-term rental in a place or location deemed acceptable by the Permit Administrator in the following format: "City of Indio Short-Term Rental Permit No. _____". In the case of audio-only advertising of the same, the permit number shall be read as part of the advertising. In addition, the following shall be clearly identified in any advertisement: (1) maximum occupancy; (2) the number of permitted bedrooms; (3) maximum number of vehicles allowed; and (4) a photo of the front of the short-term rental.
(P) Transient occupancy tax. The owner and/or owner's agent shall comply with all provisions of §§ 34.35 through 34.48 of the Municipal Code concerning transient occupancy taxes, including, but not limited to, submission of a return in accordance with § 34.41 of the Municipal Code, which shall be filed even if the vacation rental unit was not rented during each such reporting period.
(Q) Submission of internet listings. All internet listing sites (e.g. website URLs) and listing numbers associated with a short-term rental shall be submitted to the city by the owner or owner's agent within 30 days of approval of the short-term rental permit and any revisions thereafter shall be submitted to the Permit Administrator.
(R)
Full Breakdown
005 sets out what an Indio applicant must register: owner name, address, phone, and email; a copy of the owner's state ID; details of any LLC or family trust holding a financial interest; the authorized agent and a 24-hour local contact person; the rental address; the bedroom count and occupancy limit; a parking plan; all advertising URLs; a front photo; an indemnification agreement; proof of a business license; proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance; and the proposed rental rates. 002) must reside in the Coachella Valley.
___," and clearly identify the maximum occupancy, the number of permitted bedrooms, the maximum number of vehicles allowed, and a front photo. 012(Q) requires owners to submit all listing-site URLs and listing numbers to the city within 30 days of permit approval and to report any later changes. 014 obligates platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to verify a valid permit before completing bookings. 010); renewal is handled together with the city business license.
Violations & Fines
Advertising without the required permit number, occupancy, bedroom, and vehicle disclosures violates Section 37.012(O) and is enforceable as a misdemeanor or by administrative citation under Chapter 12, with each day a separate violation (Section 37.019). Failing to submit listing URLs within 30 days breaches Section 37.012(Q). False or misleading statements in the application are grounds for suspension or revocation under Section 37.016.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must I put in my Indio short-term rental listing?
Do Airbnb and VRBO check my Indio permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
How Indio compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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